OPD: Men huffed from aerosol can with two young children in car

Published: Friday, June 28, 2013 at 12:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 28, 2013 at 12:05 p.m.

Two men who police said were observed inhaling from an aerosol can — commonly called huffing — while two young children were inside the vehicle were arrested Thursday and charged with child neglect and inhalation of a harmful chemical substance.

The Ocala Police Department was notified that two men were possibly doing illegal drugs inside a Chevy Blazer in the driveway of a residence in the 1700 block of Southeast 38th Court.

Officer Aaron Messenger drove to the area and stopped the Blazer as it was leaving the driveway. Inside the vehicle were the driver, Jarrett Tallman, 22, passenger John Karem, 19, and two boys ages 2 and 1. The children were sweating profusely, and one of them was wearing a diaper described by officers as "heavily soiled," according to the report.

Tallman told the officers he was watching the children, who belong to his girlfriend, and that one of them is his son. He said he didn't have anything for them to drink, and only had a partial bag of Cocoa Puffs for food. He admitted to huffing from aerosol cans and said he had a past substance abuse problem and had recently lost his job so he turned "to dusting again," the report noted.

Found along the driveway was an empty can of Maxell Blast Away Multi-Purpose Duster. Inside the Chevy was a can of Maxell Blast Away and a Magum 44 permanent marker.

Both men claimed they did not inhale anything from the marker.

Messenger and Sgt. Erica Hay also met with a man who told them he had video of the two men huffing. The officers looked at the cellphone video and saw Tallman and Karem inhaling the contents of aerosol cans. At times, officials said, the men appeared to vomit or spit each time they took a hit.

Tallman and Karem were arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

The children were released to their mother, who was brought to the scene by an officer.

The Department of Children and Families was notified.

Jail records show Karem remained there Friday on $1,500 bond for his two charges. They also show he was arrested in March and April of this year for minor offenses and also last October.

Tallman also remained at the jail Friday, with bond set at $500 on the inhalation charge and $1,000 on the child neglect charge. He also was being held without bond for violation of probation charges for burglary of a conveyance and petit theft issued by Palm Beach County officials.

<p>Two men who police said were observed inhaling from an aerosol can — commonly called huffing — while two young children were inside the vehicle were arrested Thursday and charged with child neglect and inhalation of a harmful chemical substance.</p><p>The Ocala Police Department was notified that two men were possibly doing illegal drugs inside a Chevy Blazer in the driveway of a residence in the 1700 block of Southeast 38th Court.</p><p>Officer Aaron Messenger drove to the area and stopped the Blazer as it was leaving the driveway. Inside the vehicle were the driver, Jarrett Tallman, 22, passenger John Karem, 19, and two boys ages 2 and 1. The children were sweating profusely, and one of them was wearing a diaper described by officers as "heavily soiled," according to the report.</p><p>Tallman told the officers he was watching the children, who belong to his girlfriend, and that one of them is his son. He said he didn't have anything for them to drink, and only had a partial bag of Cocoa Puffs for food. He admitted to huffing from aerosol cans and said he had a past substance abuse problem and had recently lost his job so he turned "to dusting again," the report noted.</p><p>Found along the driveway was an empty can of Maxell Blast Away Multi-Purpose Duster. Inside the Chevy was a can of Maxell Blast Away and a Magum 44 permanent marker.</p><p>Both men claimed they did not inhale anything from the marker.</p><p>Messenger and Sgt. Erica Hay also met with a man who told them he had video of the two men huffing. The officers looked at the cellphone video and saw Tallman and Karem inhaling the contents of aerosol cans. At times, officials said, the men appeared to vomit or spit each time they took a hit.</p><p>Tallman and Karem were arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p>The children were released to their mother, who was brought to the scene by an officer.</p><p>The Department of Children and Families was notified.</p><p>Jail records show Karem remained there Friday on $1,500 bond for his two charges. They also show he was arrested in March and April of this year for minor offenses and also last October.</p><p>Tallman also remained at the jail Friday, with bond set at $500 on the inhalation charge and $1,000 on the child neglect charge. He also was being held without bond for violation of probation charges for burglary of a conveyance and petit theft issued by Palm Beach County officials.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>